Young Adolescent Boys Research Articles

The function of subgroups in a young adolescent activity group

Subgrouping is troublesome in interpersonal groups, which rely upon open verbal exchanges between all members. In activity groups, however, subgroups are functional for the members and, if allowed to run their course, can lead to group cohesion. A Young adolescent boys group is described to illustrate this principle.

The use of the Core Conflictual Relationship Theme method in describing and comparing gestalt and rational emotive behavior therapy with adolescents

The Core Conflitual Relationship Theme (CCRT) method (Luborsky, 1977) is used to study recurrent relationship patterns in therapy and may be employed as a measure of transference as well. We found only one article in the literature in which it was applied to a mode of psychotherapy, other than psychodynamic (Turner, 1992). In addition, there are only a few articles in the literature that refer to the CCRT method with children and adolescents. In this paper, we applied the CCRT method to two videotaped individual sessions of young adolescent boys, one in gestalt therapy and the other in rational emotive behavior therapy. Results showed that both boys revealed similar core relational theme profiles, but that their respective therapists each dealt differently with these relationship conflicts. In this pilot use of the CCRT with adolescent therapy, we were able to describe relationship patterns and delineate key differences between the two treatment modalities.

The Interpersonal Context of Emotion: Anger with Close Friends and Classmates

While a great deal of work in recent years has focused on the role of cognitive evaluation of events in the elicitation of anger, little has been said about how the interpersonal context of events colors such evaluation. In this study, we varied critical features of events identified by theorists (provocation, intent, and apology) along with the interpersonal context of the events. We examined the reactions of preadolescent and young adolescent boys and girls to hypothetical situations involving anger-provoking actions by best friends and classmates (casual acquaintances). The situations involving best friends elicited higher ratings of personal violation, more intense and prolonged negative emotion (including sadness and hurt feelings in addition to anger), and more coping attempts geared toward relationship preservation than did the situations involving classmates. Girls seemed to be particularly sensitive to relationship differences, consistently reporting different responses when friends and classmates were involved. Findings associated with the theoretical features of anger elicitation (provocation, intent, and apology), while generally fitting predictions, were less clear and convincing, overall, than the effects of relationship context. Findings related to age were limited but were consistent with research on the changing nature and meaning of friendship as children enter adolescence. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of relationship context as a backdrop against which emotional experience must be viewed.

Individual-Contextual Relationships and Mathematics Performance

This study examined whether the system of relationships between individual-psychological characteristics (i.e., spatial ability, scholastic ability perception, mathematics stereotype), social contextual levels of family and culture, and mathematics performance differs for young adolescent girls and boys. Subjects included 160 American (i.e., from the United States) sixth graders and 242 Serbian fifth and sixth graders. Findings indicated that in both cultures scholastic ability perception was associated with the mathematics performance of boys and girls. In addition, both among American and Serbian boys and among Serbian girls, spatial ability was linked to their mathematics performance. Interestingly, among American girls but not among Serbian girls, holding a less traditional mathematics stereotype related negatively to mathematics performance. Finally, the family appeared to be a particularly salient context for Serbian young adolescents, especially for girls. These findings underscore the notion that at different levels of the social context young adolescents' individual-psychological characteristics can vary, leading to different academic outcomes.

The Rough Play of Adolescent Boys of Differing Sociometric Status

Two forms of rough-and-tumble play (R&T/Chase and R&T/Rough) were observed in a group of young adolescent boys while they were on the playground during their school recess period. Although little variation was observed for the R&T/Chase category, sociometrically defined average and rejected boys, compared to popular boys, spent a significant portion of their time in R&T/Rough. This latter form of R&T was, in turn, related to aggression and perspective-taking status for rejected boys; it was related to dominance status for all boys. Additionally, rejected and average boys chose to engage in R&T/Rough with children who were less dominant than they. R&T/Chase was not reliably correlated with other measures. These findings are interpreted as supporting the claim that some children exploit play bouts for their own dominance-exhibition ends.

A performance model for academic achievement in early adolescent boys.

This study tests a model for conduct-related school failure in young adolescent boys. In this model, family characteristics and child antisocial behavior serve as predictors of school adjustment and academic performance. Ss were 206 youths and their families, followed from the 4th through 8th grades. Results indicated that low parental academic achievement was associated with ineffective discipline practices and child antisocial behavior in the 6th grade. Ineffective discipline had a direct and negative effect on boys' 7th-grade academic engagement. Boys'academic engagement, in turn, had a direct and positive effect on 8th-grade academic achievement. A smaller direct effect of parental achievement on child achievement was also found

Varicoceles: Radiologic Diagnosis and Treatment

The association of clinically apparent varicoceles with male subfertility and infertility has been noted in the urology literature since the late nineteenth century, and surgical ligation of varicoceles has been considered appropriate therapy in an attempt to improve semen quality and increase fertility for the past 40 years. It has been established by several authors cited herein that varicocele size does not predict prognosis after ligation reliably. Because subclinical varicoceles may affect testicular function and histologic characteristics adversely and because age at time of therapy may affect probability of successful enhancement of fertility, the interest of radiologists and urologists has been directed toward diagnosis and treatment of both clinically obvious and clinically occult varicoceles, particularly in young adult men or adolescent boys. Testicular growth after varicocele ligation in adolescent boys also suggests a benefit from early intervention. Sonographic evidence of a varicocele must be correlated with analysis of semen for sperm density, motility, and morphology, as not all patients with varicoceles are infertile. Although surgical therapy is standard for varicocele occlusion, fairly extensive evidence exists to show that percutaneous transvenous occlusion of varicoceles is feasible, safe, and effective, particularly in the setting of varicocele recurrence after conventional surgical treatment.

Acne Vulgaris in Early Adolescent Boys

To assess the prevalence and severity of acne vulgaris in young adolescent boys, we studied 219 black and 249 white boys in fifth through ninth grades in Cincinnati, Ohio. The mean age was 12.2 +/- 1.4 years, with a range of 9 to 15 years. Pubertal maturation was scored as Tanner pubic hair stages (PH I to V) and pubertal stages (PS I to IV) that included testicular volume assessment. Acne was scored by number of comedonal (open plus closed comedones) and inflammatory (papules plus pustules) lesions. Comedonal and inflammatory lesions were analyzed separately and evaluated both as numerical scores and as grades (1, less than or equal to 10 lesions; 2, 11 to 25 lesions; and 3, greater than or equal to 26 lesions). Grades 2 and 3 were considered clinically significant acne. Acne became progressively more severe with advancing maturity. Mean acne scores correlated better with PS and pubic hair than with age. Black subjects were more mature than white subjects. Black boys in PSI and II had significantly more comedones than white boys; white boys had significantly more inflammatory lesions at PS I and III. Clinically significant comedonal acne was already present in PS I and occurred in 100% of boys in PS IV. In contrast, no boys at PS I and only 50% at PS IV had significant inflammatory acne. Midfacial acne dominated. We concluded that acne prevalence and severity correlate well with advancing pubertal maturation in young adolescent boys. Comedonal acne was more frequent and severe than inflammatory disease. Awareness of the extent and severity of acne in preadolescents and young adolescents may ultimately provide rationale for early intervention and thus prevention of severe acne vulgaris.

Masculinity, Femininity, and Sex Role Attitudes in Early Adolescence: Exploring Gender Intensification

This longitudinal study of 200 young adolescent girls and boys (mean age 11.6 years in sixth grade) investigated the hypothesis that differences in masculinity, femininity, and sex role attitudes would intensify across the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades (between 11 and 13 years of age) and that pubertal timing (early, on time, late) would play a role in this intensification. Analyses revealed that sex differences in masculinity and sex role attitudes increased across grades, but not sex differences in femininity. Pubertal timing was not associated with this gender divergence, although the evidence is equivocal for boys. The results provide support for gender intensification, but the role of pubertal timing may not be as strong as previously supposed.

Weight and eating concerns among pre- and young adolescent boys and girls

The emergence of weight and eating concerns in pre- and young adolescents and the relations of these concerns to daily experience and psychologic adjustment were investigated. Four hundred eighty-one children from fifth to ninth grades completed a Weight and Eating Concerns Scale, a depression inventory, self-esteem and body image scales, and reported their daily experiences by the Experience Sampling Method. Girls tended to report more weight and eating concerns than boys. This discrepancy increased with age. In older girls (eighth and ninth graders) extreme weight and eating concerns were associated with other signs of emotional maladjustment. Girls who experience emotional distress may try to compensate for the strain by controlling body shape and in doing so, may place themselves at risk for developing an eating disorder. Boys currently appear to be protected from this difficulty. Our findings suggest that excessive weight and eating concerns in young adolescent girls signal psychologic maladjustment which may require attention.

Parent and child stress and symptoms: An integrative analysis.

This study assessed major and daily stressful life events and psychological symptoms in a sample of young adolescents and their parents. The relation between major life events and symptoms was mediated by daily stressors for parents and their young adolescent children. Children's emotional and behavioral problems were associated with fathers' psychological symptoms but not with mothers' symptoms. Both mothers' and fathers' symptoms were associated with their sons' daily stressors, but girls' daily stressors were related only to their mothers' symptoms. Mothers' symptoms were associated with their husbands' daily hassles in families of young adolescent boys, and both parents' symptoms were associated with their spouses' hassles in families of adolescent girls. Highlights the importance of studying stress processes between individuals.

A self-report measure of pubertal status: Reliability, validity, and initial norms

Puberty is a central process in the complex set of changes that constitutes the transition from childhood to adolescence. Research on the role of pubertal change in this transition has been impeded by the difficulty of assessing puberty in ways acceptable to young adolescents and others involved. Addressing this problem, this paper describes and presents norms for a selfreport measure of pubertal status. The measure was used twice annually over a period of three years in a longitudinal study of 335 young adolescent boys and girls. Data on a longitudinal subsample of 253 subjects are reported. The scale shows good reliability, as indicated by coefficient alpha. In addition, several sources of data suggest that these reports are valid. The availability of such a measure is important for studies, such as those based in schools, in which more direct measures of puberty may not be possible.

Measurement of cardiac output and exercise factor by pulsed doppler echocardiography during supine bicycle ergometry in normal young adolescent boys

The purposes of this study were to determine the ability of pulsed Doppler echocardiography to consistently and accurately measure cardiac output during exercise, and to measure the exercise factor by Doppler methodology when oxygen consumption was simultaneously measured. Thirty-four healthy young adolescent male volunteers (mean age 13 years) were recruited. Submaximal exercise was performed by supine bicycle ergometry. Cardiac output was calculated as mean velocity X cross-sectional area. Successful rest and exercise determinations of cardiac output were obtained in 81% (n = 52) of the studies. Mean cardiac output increased from 4.6 to 8.9 liters/min (p less than 0.001) during exercise and mean oxygen consumption increased from 212 to 899 ml/min (p less than 0.001). Doppler-estimated rest and exercise cardiac outputs correlated well with simultaneously measured oxygen consumption (r = 0.89, SEE = 1.2 liters/min; y = 0.006 X 3.2 liters/min). Mean exercise factor was 6.4 (1.2 SD). Twenty-six pairs of rest and exercise cardiac output determinations by Doppler technique and indirect Fick method were simultaneously compared in a subset population (r = 0.86, SEE = 1.4 liters/min; slope = 0.93, y intercept = 1.4 liters/min). Results of this study demonstrate that cardiac output and exercise factor can be estimated by pulsed Doppler echocardiography during exercise.

695 ULTRASOUND (US) IN THE EVALUATION OF AN ABDOMINAL MASS

From 1976 to 1980, 482 consecutive patients with the clinical suspicion of an abdominal mass were evaluated with US, 119 (25%) had no mass or an anatomic variant felt as a mass; 363 with a mass are displayed below as to area and type of mass. Based on the data and results of other radiographic studies, an approach to the diagnosis was developed. Plain abdominal radiograph followed by intravenous urography (IVU) is appropriate when a mass is thought to be retroperitoneal in origin. If a tumor is diagnosed on the radiographs, US is used in its characterization and staging, A pelvic mass, if of gynecologic origin, is evaluated primarily with ultrasound. In young children and adolescent boys with a pelvic mass, US is coordinated with IVU. If the mass is anterior or associated with gastrointestinal bleeding or obstruction, plain radiographs followed by US and studies with barium are appropriate. An hepatic mass is evaluated with plain radiographs, US and, if necessary, nuclear scans and angiography.

Young Adolescents' Beliefs concerning Menstruation

In order to explore the early socialization of attitudes and expectations about menstruation, 54 young adolescent girls (both pre- and postmenarcheal) and boys responded to a questionnaire assessing evaluative attitudes toward menstruation, expected symptomatology, perceived effects on moods and activities, and sources of information for these beliefs. The results showed that even premenarcheal girls and young boys have a reasonably well-defined and mostly negative set of attitudes and expectations. Most believed that menstruation is accompanied by physical discomforts, increased emotionality, and a disruption of activities and social interactions. Although the responses of the 3 groups were remarkably similar, premenarcheal girls had a somewhat less negative evaluation of menstruation than both postmenarcheal girls and boys. Other analysis showed that symptom expectations for "girls in general" were more severe than for selves, though these 2 sets of responses were highly correlated. On the basis of these findings and the data concerning sources of information, the possible role of socialization processes in the menstrual experience is discussed.

Crisis intervention guided by attachment concepts-a case study.

SUMMARYCaplan's concepts of crisis and crisis intervention arc summarized and compared with Parkes' concept of psychosocial transition, which embodies attachment concepts (Bowlby) and an elaboration of Cantril's concept of the Assumptive Form World.This latter concept, taken further is presented as a metaphor in which to discuss events, experiences and behaviour commonly seen in crisis situations.The case study of a suicide bid by a young adolescent boy, illustrates the way attachment concepts, expressed through the metaphor of personal assumptive worlds, may be used to guide intervention in crisis situations in child and adolescent psychiatry.

SUPPRESSION OF HETERO‐SEXUAL INTEREST AND OF AGGRESSION BY MIDDLE CLASS AND WORKING CLASS GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS

Summary. A short summary is given of the literature relating to social class differences in attitudes to sex and aggression and to the influence of social mobility on working class attitudes. The sample and the methods of investigation are described. The results are discussed. They show significant social class differences regarding suppression of hetero‐sexual interest but no differences regarding suppression of aggression, and indicate that neither intelligence nor social mobility affect the attitudes under consideration. They also seem to show that the young adolescent boys, who formed the sample of this investigation, like girls in theory rather than in practice, and react to frustration inwardly in their thoughts and feelings rather than in overt behaviour.

Self Concept as an Insulator Against Delinquency

mHIS study is concerned with sixth-grade boys 1 in the highest delinquency areas in Columbus, Ohio, who have not become delinquent and who are not expected to become delinquent. What insulates an early teen-age boy against delinquency? Is it possible to identify certain components that enable young adolescent boys to develop or maintain non-delinquent habits and patterns of behavior in the growing up process.